The
American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery has recognized
the Nicholson Clinic as a Center of Excellence
and operates at facilities that have been awarded the Blue
Distinction designation by Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Making the Choice

If you’re considering weight loss surgery, chances are that you’re collecting and managing quite a bit of information in an effort to make the best decision. You're not alone; anyone weighing the options of weight loss surgery feels the same pressure to make the right decision. So where do you begin? Right here!

Considering weight loss surgery? Here’s what you should know:

GET EDUCATED. If you are considering weight loss surgery, first and foremost, it is critical to educate yourself about the various weight loss procedures available to you. Learn as much as you can about each of the potential surgery options and if they make sense for your body, your health, your lifestyle, and your overall goals.

CONSIDER YOUR MOTIVATION. Weight loss surgery is not something to choose lightly. It is a commitment on every level and will require your complete dedication. Only you will determine your success. So you should be sure that your motivation for doing the surgery is your health and your desire for weight loss. This is an act of self-care and should not be something that you do for anyone else.

START USING AFTER SURGERY STRATEGIES NOW. People connect food with many things and for those who are overweight, food typically has an emotional connection. Weight loss surgery will reduce the size of your stomach but feeling full won’t necessarily squelch your desire to eat. What strategies will you have in place to manage that desire and remain disciplined? Now is the time to start putting those strategies into action so you can re-learn the language of your body, including differentiating between real hunger and a desire to eat for reasons other than hunger.

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY IS NOT A MAGIC PILL. No matter what type of bariatric surgery you choose, you are choosing a tool that will better help you manage weight loss; it will not cure obesity. If you choose weight loss surgery, you will be given an effective management technique that can be enormously successful if you are committed to a consistent program of diet and exercise.

WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY WILL NOT CHANGE WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE. Is your relationship having problems? Do you have financial stress? Are you unhappy at work? Bariatric surgery can help you lose weight and get healthy, but it won’t change anything else that is happening in your life. Managing your expectations –in terms of what weight loss surgery will and will not do for you – is critical to your success.

ISSUES BEHIND OBESITY DON’T DISAPPEAR WITH POUNDS. You didn’t arrive at this weight overnight and there are certainly many layers to the issue of obesity. Losing weight will not automatically remove your reasons for overeating in the first place. Obesity is a mental condition just as much as a physical condition. True transformation will happen on every level and will require you to deal with what’s happening in your head just as much as what’s happening in your body.

EMBRACE A NEW WAY OF LIVING. Obesity comes with an enormous amount of shame attached to it for many people. You may have become used to living your life in private or behind closed doors; not participating in activities that you would otherwise enjoy. Losing weight and gaining health and mobility can open up new opportunities and experiences for you. It’s important to consider how your life may change and to be open to how you may change as a result.

GET READY TO GET MOVING. Gone are the days of inactivity. Weight loss surgery begins the journey to health but in order to stay on the road to success, exercise has to be a part of your new lifestyle. The best part? Activity rewards you with energy and you will likely feel more awake and full of energy than you have in a very long time, if ever.

* The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented on our website are applicable to the individuals depicted. Results will vary and may not be representative of the experience of others. For more information, please read our Testimonial Disclaimer.